H. erectus Middle Pleistocene Archaic H. sapiens 780-125 kya H. sapiens, present
1 1 2 3 3 2 4 4 Atapuerca 5 Archaic H. sapiens 5 5 Modern Homo sapiens Middle Pleistocene and living humans compared
Archaic H. sapiens Modern H. sapiens 1. Cranium long and low 1. Cranium globular 2. Strong brow ridges divided at center 2. Reduced or absent brow ridges 3. Angled rear vault 3. Rounded rear vault 4. Facial projection 4. Reduced face 5. No chin 5. Pronounced chin
Archaic H. sapiens Modern H. sapiens Kabwe 1 Middle Pleistocene and living humans compared
The geographical range of Middle Pleistocene Archaic Homo extended across Africa, Europe, and Asia
Africa Bodo (Ethiopia) 600 kya
Extant Human Cranial Capacity (cm 3 ) Mean Range s.d. Males 1427 1100-1651 81.6 Females 1272 1070-1427 82.9 Combined 1349 1085-1581 77.5 122 Global Samples from Beal s et al. (1984). Combined range values differ due to combined sample composition differences. All values uncorrected for body size differences.
Bodo 1300 cc Mauricio Antón
Acheulian lithic industry Cleaver -hand axes -bifacial -targeted design -mental template - end result of flake removal Hand axe
- multi-step process - perimeter flaking - striking platform at one end - controls flake size and shape Levallois Technique
1280 cc 400? Kya 1280 cc Africa Kabwe (Broken Hill) Zambia
Kabwe (Broken Hill) Zambia Africa Note: large cavities (caries) severe anterior tooth wear Left molars buccal view Right molars buccal view
Kabwe (Broken Hill) Zambia John Gurche (2010)
Kabwe (Broken Hill) Zambia Alternative restoration
Europe in the Middle Pleistocene at the time of H. heidelbergensis Northern latitudes were icecovered during glacial phases
warmer Glacial-interglacial cycles Present 100 200 300 400 500 kya
H. heidelbergensis sites including Atapuerca Atapuerca
Sima de los Huesos Atapuerca, Spain Over 6,700 hominin skeletal elements 430,00 years ago
1125 cc Europe Atapuerca 5 Spain
1125 cc Europe Atapuerca 5 Spain
Sima 5 craniofacial pathology / trauma
Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca, Spain) (430 kya)
Artist s conjectural depiction of the hominins found in the Sima de los Huesos
H. heidelbergensis sites including Schöningen, Germany Schöningen
Thieme excavating wooden spears at Schöningen (400 kya) Fire hardening wooden spear tips
Middle Pleistocene Late Pleistocene Holocene cold warm 13,000 Composite stratigraphic sequence though the Schöningen site. 125,000 200,000 The wooden spears and other implements come from a level originally thought to be 400 kya. 400,000 Recent Thermoluminescence (TL) dating published in 2015, revises the date to 337-300 kya (MIS 9) which was a warm period.
Flint artifacts from Schöningen: convex side scrapers with retouch around the edges.
Schöningen, Germany, 337-300 kya years ago Flint Scraper Bone fragment Throwing Stick Excavation of a throwing stick at Schöningen in 1994. Metric analysis indicates similarity to contemporary javelins.
Excavation of a wooden spear, 2.5 meters long, at Schöningen in 1995. The spear is made from spruce selected for it s dense concentration of growth rings. These spears were used to hunt horses.
Homo heidelbergensis hunting at Schöningen: thrusting weapon, or thrown weapon?
H. heidelbergensis sites including Petralona Petralona
Discovery of H. heidelbergensis skeleton at Petralona, Greece in 1960 Though an entire skeleton was originally reported, only the skull remains today
1230 cc Europe Middle Pleistocene Petralona Greece
H. heidelbergensis? from China Jinniushan Dali Maba
1200 cc Asia Dali, China ~ 230-180 kya
1200 cc Asia Dali, China
1260 cc Asia Jinniushan, China (ca. 260 kya)
H. neanderthalensis S H. heidelbergensis S H. sapiens S H. erectus H. ergaster? Rightmire s phylogeny showing the central position of Homo heidelbergensis as both the ancestor of modern H. sapiens and the ancestor of H. neanderthalensis. S S speciation event
H. antecessor? Gran Dolina, Atapuerca, Spain 850-780 kya
Gran Dolina Alternative phylogeny with H. antecessor as ancestral group